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<br />MAY 1982 <br /> <br />of Public Law 83-566, initiated feasibility studies of possible improvements <br /> <br />in onfarm irrigation systems and practices for the purpose of controlling <br /> <br />saline return flows to the Colorado River from McElmo Creek. <br /> <br />Purpose and Objectives <br /> <br />The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act firmly establishes that <br /> <br />the purpose of salinity control studies is to reduce the salt load carried <br /> <br />by the Colorado River. Two co-equal national objectives form the basis for <br /> <br />planning. These are to protect and enhance national economic development <br /> <br />and to protect and enhance environmental quality. For salinity control <br /> <br />studies these two objectives are defined as: <br /> <br />Environmental Quality - Improve water quality by reducing the salt load <br /> <br />in the Colorado River while minimizing adverse effects on local fish <br /> <br />and wildlife resources. <br /> <br />Economic Development - Enhance agriculture production, and improve <br /> <br />local systems and practices for managing irrigation water to reduce <br /> <br />salt loading in the river that causes economic damages downstream. <br /> <br />Two overall purposes for participation by USDA in salinity control <br /> <br /> <br />studies are to: (1) determine the contribution of salt loading from <br /> <br /> <br />irrigated farm land; and (2) determine the opportunity for reducing salt <br /> <br />loading through improvements in irrigation systems and water management <br /> <br />practices. <br /> <br />11-2 <br /> <br />0018ZS <br />